they do everything they can to be sure it is away from the workplace!
Same here, unless it is a non-work event at a great place. Though, my wife's work has some decent events for their people and everyone comes for them just about. In the spring they will have a family day we will likely visit too.
I think small gatherings at homes are better for actually talking than things like this where you have other crowd noise, loud music, and generic cacophony going on.
And this is what I was hoping for, but it ended up being like that, but with all the other stuff on top. It was pretty cool.
It sounds like a good place to work!